Sundance Film Festival 2024: Every Little Thing (U.S. Documentary Competition) | Review

Every Little Thing is a spectacular documentary brimming with humanity and compassion, driven by a luminous character dedicated to rescuing injured hummingbirds. As the wildlife documentary meets intimate storytelling through Sally Aitken’s lens, the blend is powerfully moving and a tremendous success.

Every Little Thing, directed by Sally Aitken and showcased at the Sundance Film Festival 2024, is a spectacular and profoundly human documentary that provides a unique perspective on hummingbirds, the world’s smallest birds.

The film kicks off with familiar views of Los Angeles, accompanied by a vibrant and catchy tone, only to swiftly redirect us as viewers. This isn’t about the glitz of Hollywood, the grandeur of success, or celebrity; instead, it’s an exploration of something seemingly inconspicuous: hummingbirds. The narrative plunges into the life of Terry Masear, a retiree with a big heart, who has transformed her spacious abode in the hills of Los Angeles into a sanctuary for over 20,000 vulnerable hummingbirds. Without her, these delicate creatures, injured and damaged, would have no chance of survival.

Terry Masear, the documentary’s true heroine, embodies humility and dedication, dedicating over 18 years of her life to these hummingbirds. The woman who could be called the Jane Goodall of hummingbirds knows them inside out, naming and caring for them, understanding their stories and interpreting their behaviors like no other. Terry is radiant and captivates with her remarkable knowledge and emotional bond with the hummingbirds. Terry narrates the story of each of the birds she knows so well, detailing how they were injured or mistreated. Her empirical knowledge of this species is incredibly impressive, gained through her dedicated care and observation of them. Moreover, her personal story, subtly woven into the narrative, adds an emotional depth to the documentary.

Through a well-crafted and efficient editing, the film takes us on a journey through the recovery of these birds, from their arrival at Terry’s care to their eventual release. Each small progress, from the first vertical flight to transitioning to larger cages, is felt profoundly. Each bird’s story becomes a narrative of its own, establishing a profound connection between the viewer and these fragile creatures.

However, analyzing the film solely on its narrative would overlook the elephant in the room… The film’s greatest strength lies in its breathtaking macro cinematography, offering the most vivid and dazzling visuals of hummingbirds. The spectacular slow-motion shots capture every movement with remarkable precision, transforming the film into a celebration of nature’s beauty and prowess. This artistic approach allows a fascinating change of scale, elevating these vulnerable birds to the status of true protagonists.

This is the heart of the film: Sally Aitken aims to give genuine importance to hummingbirds, consistently featuring them prominently and mentioning their names whenever a segment is dedicated to them. The objective is to draw attention to these small beings, whose size should never induce human indifference—a poignant reminder of our often insufficient respect for nature.

Furthermore, the film’s music stands out with its generosity, orchestral magnitude, and universal appeal, serving as another tool to underscore the importance of the hummingbirds’ challenges. In this film, every cinematic element contributes to this overarching intention.

Every Little Thing transcends the typical wildlife documentary genre to become a reflection of humanity and our relationship with nature. Through its remarkably touching character, it emphasizes the significance of paying attention to the small things, the marginalized, and the weak, urging humility in the face of our impact on the planet. It is a film that encourages observation, to watch these animals, to see the signs of pain, their behavior, to learn with humility, to respect the other with one’s heart…

The narrative tracks the hummingbirds’ progression until their release into the wild, featuring numerous gradually emotional sequences that culminate in the grand leap towards freedom.

In sum, in Every Little Thing, the sensitivity, care, and delicacy of the filmmaking perfectly mirror Terry’s approach to the animals she cares for, providing a deeply satisfying and unforgettable experience. Every Little Thing is a thoroughly successful cinematic experience, combining visual beauty, generosity, and a profoundly human message. It is a poignant tribute to nature and those, like Terry Masear, who dedicate their lives to protecting its fragile beauty from human activity and indifference.